Hotter than Sittin' on the Sun

Once again, Vancouver was host to a packed, steamy
two night stand by New Orleans'
Galactic.
While gullible yuppies
spent the weekend trying to sell their junk-gold stock, the crowds
and bookers at the Chameleon hit definite paydirt with these hot,
young musicians. Galactic did not simply cook over their
two and a half hours -- they were at a furious boil all
evening. Heavy on the swamp-funk grooves, the band tore into their
first number with the conviction of a Baptist bayou preacher.
All six on stage revealed some incredible musical licks and a
few stage hijinks to boot.

Keyboard genius Rich Vogel, a dead ringer for a circa-1970
Ray Manzarek, fired off some thrilling solo shots on his vintage
Wurlitzer. Speaking at the set break, Vogel fondly recalled discovering
the instrument in a New Orleans pawnshop. After experimenting
with the organ's sound, he found it possible to recreate the juicy
suspense of the renowned Hammond B-3 by sending his Wurl through
a Leslie amp. The rest is basement history -- and for those experiencing
his instrumental architecture, the results were pure fried-chicken,
muscle-car bliss.

Vocalist
Theryl deClouet, a.k.a. 'House Man,' was
also on the bus for the tour, and contributed lyrics to maybe
a third of the otherwise instrumental set. His smooth delivery
added a welcome dash of soul to the band's overall punchy gumbo.
It was impressive watching this dude slid out of the gyrating
throng, purr like vintage Curtis Mayfield on "There's Something
Wrong with This Picture," then coolly leave the stage to
resume his shameless flirting at a club table. Nice way to punch
the clock in a tour of the hip lounges across the continent!

What makes Galactic such a treat to experience, live,
is that all the players crave the spotlight and constantly try
to out solo each other while still having heaps of fun in each
other's company and playing. Tenor man Eric Traub blew the fiber
out of his reed, sending sheets of jazz-laced funk right back
to the bartenders at the Chameleon. Meanwhile, bass commander
Robert Mercurio and guitar captain Jeff Raines combined for some
high-rank funk on "Go Go." With the help of the organ,
these two resurrected and did justice to almost every groove in
the STAX back catalogue. Hold on, I'm becoming a major Galactic
fan!

Certainly not to go without mention was the playing
of
Stanton Moore
on the tubs. Hoping for a better view or perhaps
a little extra thump on the kick drum, Moore repeatedly smashed
on his kit while standing up, and then a little later changed
the pitch of his floor tom by blowing air into the drum. Wacky
musicians! His solos left not only the crowd, but the rest of
the band, too, with their jaws hanging open.

By their second set, Galactic had the crowd as spellbound
as the astronomy geeks outside, searching the skies for the Halle-Bopp
comet. Trading solos faster than hockey cards, the sax man tore
a page off Maceo Parker's rapsheet and the organist continued
to spit out his unique deep-purplized funk. For all the Vancouver
ladies in attendance, the group offered "Groovy Lady,"
an infectious romp that got the crowd wiggling. Before the band
called it a night we had seen it all: soul singing, hot soloing
and a spontaneous percussion lesson on an empty beer bottle.

There's no need to mince words about Galactic: these
guys are shit-hot live. Drop everything -- clothes, whatever --
and see this band next time they come to town!

Check out Galactic's website at
http://www.fogworld.com/galactic
for more info on the band and their nonstop tour schedule. You can also
listen to their entire album online, in stereo and for free!